Google announced last week that it will let customers change their Google Voice phone numbers for $10 per switch.

Google Voice is a unified voice calls and messaging service. When you sign up, Google assigns you one phone number that you give out to everyone, which rings to all of your phones at once when called.

"But we also realize that there are times where you might want to change your Google number. Maybe you'd prefer to have a local number after moving to another area code," Google wrote in a blog post. "Or maybe you'd just like to find a more personalized number than what you have now to keep for the long term."

As a result, Google will offer users the option to change their numbers for $10 via your account settings. To allow you time to notify friends and family, your old number will remain in effect for three months, during which time calls and texts to both numbers will show up. Before your number expires, meanwhile, Google will tell you who is still using the old number so you can notify them of the switch.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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